1.
facebook.com/motivateyouthinc
Motivate_Youth

2. Coaching Staff to Perform
by Aaron Romens and Sarah Romens, PhD.
Based on Motivational Interviewing, 3rd Ed. by Miller and Rollnick; Motivational Interviewing for Effective Classroom Management by Reinke, Herman, and Sprick
© 2017 Motivate Youth, Inc.

3. Learn how to use observation and feedback to help youth workers improve their practices
Objective

4. What are the strengths of a youth worker?
Let’s start by making a list of what we see from effective staff members
What are the strengths of a youth worker?

5. Weaknesses vs. Strengths
The important role of framing in feedback
Weaknesses vs. Strengths

6. Observations and feedback
What methods are already in place?
Our goal today is not to replace these methods, but rather improve them
Observations and feedback

7. Process Overview Pre-Interview Observation/data collection
Create feedback
Give feedback
Make a plan
Process Overview

8. Pre-Interview AKA - get to know the staff
Can be very informal – a good time to talk about broad goals
Pre-Interview

9. Observe Categories of success
Each program will have different categories
Common categories include: behavior management, instructional quality, positive interactions, etc…
Others?
Observe

10. Observe The preciseness of your evaluations can vary
Very detailed evaluations offer accurate but complicated feedback
Less detailed evaluations provide less accurate but simpler to understand feedback
Observe

11. Try using a graph like this:
Observe

12. Using MI skills here can help create a collaborative atmosphere and protect the confidence of staff members
Let’s examine the Spirit of MI
Giving Feedback

13. The Spirit of MI has Four Principles
Partnership
Acceptance
Compassion
Evocation
The Spirit of MI has Four Principles

14. Partnership MI is dancing, not wrestling.
You and the staff member each bring an expertise to the table.
Both of you have something vital to contribute.
Partnership
You are an expert on working with kids and helping them succeed. They are an expert on themselves.

15. Partnership Partnerships are based on mutual respect.
Do not bring others into the conversation.
Partnership
Talking about why you respect others only diminishes the respect you have between each other.
Everyone deserves our respect.

16. Acceptance Acceptance is not approval Your approval is irrelevant
In this moment, you are there to help them improve
Acceptance
Remember, we don’t judge!

17. The Four Aspects of Acceptance
Absolute Worth
Autonomy
Affirmation
Empathy
The Four Aspects of Acceptance
Absolute Worth: Respecting All Students, Without Judgment. Also, the notion that all people want to be better people.
Autonomy: Everyone is ultimately in charge of their own life, and their choices are their own. No Ego!
Affirmation: Our students have strenghths, and that should be our focus.
Empathy: Understanding another person’s problems as if they were your own. This means the acceptance that if you had been living their life, you would have found yourself in the exact same situation.

18. Compassion You are in service
MI conversations should not be used for selfish means (you want to help others improve, not make your life easier)
Compassion
Don’t use it in sales!
Waisman center stories. I would be happy to share more information on compassion, links to exercises.
Small compassion building exercise.

19. The staff member may already know almost everything they need to solve a problem.
Much like a tutor doesn’t give an answer, your job is to help others use their strengths and knowledge to arrive at a solution.
Evocation

20. So let’s practice (I need volunteers.)
Giving Feedback

21. Menu of Options Based on feedback what would you like to improve?
Write down a bunch and pick a few things (maybe the most important) together.
Menu of Options

22. Create a Plan Specific actions Your role, and their role
How will you measure success?
Create a Plan

23. Two ways to improve
Expand strengths
Reduce weaknesses
Create a Plan

24. Review strengths and examine how those strengths can overcome weaknesses (or fill in what is missing.)
Let’s practice making an improvement plan.
Framing the Plan